Internal combustion engine



Nov. 3, 1931. X

C. S. BURNETT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 8. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I /a 5 be i 23 I 1 /{&

' wvwrofi A TTORNEY C. S. BURNETT Filed Jan. 8, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 2 v W I I a T 66 0. Q 0

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After 25y Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES CHARLES S. BURNETT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed. January 8, 1929. Serial No. 331,084.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1888, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 G. 757) This invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates generally to internal combustion engines and particularly to an internal combustion engine provided with mean for producing a supplemental explosion to aid the initial power impulse.

The device functions on the principle of the four stroke cycle engine but distinguishes from known engines operating on this cycle.

in that after the main impulse has been given to the working piston. a second impulse is transmitted thereto by the explosionof a combustible mixture in a supplemental cylinder. The secondary explosion augments the pres sure existing in the Working cylinder sothat the working eifort, which in known engines drops quickly away, in my engine is bolstered up and maintained approximately constant during the early part of the working stroke.

The apparatus embodies a working or main cylinder and two supplemental cylinders of diverse sizes, all the cylinders positioned with their longitudinal axes in the same plane. The piston of the working cylinder cooperates with the crank shaft in known manner while the pistons of the supplemental cylinders are connected together by a walking beam that is cccentrically pivoted so that the smaller piston of the two has a shorter stroke than the larger one. The smaller cylinder has a port therein, controlled by its piston, that opens into the working cylinder above the working piston so that at certain stages in the operation of the apparatus the effect of an explosion of a combustible mixture in the small cylinder may be transmitted to the working piston. The working cylinder is in communication at its top with the lower end of the large supplemental cylinder and the piston of the latter is furnished with a spring sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of compression in the working cylinder soas to preclude movement of the supplemental piston on the compression stroke of the working piston but the spring is not capable of preventing movement of the large supplemental pis' on,when the charge in the workvation of my invention.

ing cylinder is fired. Combustion in the Working cylinder compresses a charge in the small supplemental cylinder byforcing up the large supplemental piston which results in the small one being moved downwardly due to the walking beam connection. The charge in the small cylinder is fired soon after the main impetus is given to the working piston and augments working piston.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to obtain smoother power delivery through the utilization of the auxiliary combustion.

vAnother object of my invention is to provide'an engine in which the initial power chamber wherein a very high compression 'may be secured in the auxiliary combustion chamber. 7 f A further object isto furnish a device of the nature above set forth having an auxiliary. combustion chamber in which very high compression may be obtained as a result the then declining pressure operating on the p of the initial power impulse without direct mechanical connectionbetween the main and auxiliary combustion chambers and with minimum of frictional losses.

Another object is to obtain low piston speeds combined with high compression.

An additional object is to secure an elevated power output with a minimum of vibration.

A still further object of my invention is to furnish a device of the nature set forth supra that readily lends itself to combina-' tion with like sets to form engines of multiple units corresponding to multiple cylinders in the well known four cycle engine.

In order that myinvention may be readily understood reference is had to the appended drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, and in which Figure 1 is an organization view inelebetween the two said cylinders.

Figures 2-5 show the position of the component elements at the inauguration of the suction, compression, power and exhaust strokes as follows: Figure 2, the suction stroke; Figure 3, the compression stroke; Figure 4:, the power stroke and Figure 5, the exhaust stroke.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section at 66 on Figure 2 showing the cylinder port of the auxiliary combustion chamber. Figure 7 represents the small supplemental piston construction.

An engine block broadly designated as 1 is designed to form. a working cylinder 2 and two supplemental cylinders 3 and 4, the cylinder 3 larger than the cylinder 41, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The supplemental cylinders are positioned above the working cylinder and communicate therewith through the following construction The cylinder 3, near its lower extremity, is connected to the upper portion of cylinder 2 by a port 6 fashioned in the common wall Cylinder 2 is so constructed with respect to cylinder 4 that the upper portion of the former is in direct communication with the lower portion of the latter so that at no time will differential pressure exist in cylinders2 and 4.

The working piston 7 which operates in the working cylinder is connected by means of connecting rod 8, with a crank 9, as is well known'in the ordinary engine construction. The piston 10 which operates in cylinder 3 is connected with a piston '11, which re ciprocates in cylinder 4, by means of a walking beam 12 that is pivoted eccentrically at 13 so that the stroke of piston 11 is greater than the stroke of piston 10. Cooperating with the two pistons 10 and 11 are piston rods 14 and 15, that are connected by means of rollers 16 and 17 with guide ways 18 and 19. fashioned in the ends of the walking beam 12. This construction is necessitated because of the fact that the ends of the walking beam 12 as it pivots about 13 digress from a movement which is axial with respect to the piston rods 14: and 15; in other words, the walking beam ends move in the segment of a circle, while the path of the rollers 16 and '17 in their verticle movement is that of a straight line.

It is to be strictly borne. in mind that-I do not limit myself to this particular construction, but the connection between the piston rods 14 and 15 and the walking beam 12 may embody any construction that is expedient.

Since the stroke of piston 10 is shorter than that of 11 and since cylinder 3 is of less di ameter than cylinder 4, a selected pressure in cylinder 1 is capable of developing a greater pressure in cylinder 3. By varying. the supplemental-cylinder diameters and the stroke of the supplementalpistons any desired relainder 3 must, of necessity, be positioned tlVO PlQSSlll'OS lll tllO lWO Silltl tiylllldtll'h' 1112!) be secured.

From the description of the cylinders which has preceded, it can be seen that clyl- )0- low cylinder 1 in the organization and also cylinder 4 must be above cylinder 2 because of the position of the supplemental cylinders with respect to working cylinder 2 and the diverse length of stroke of pistons 10 and 11. Cylinder head 20 of cylinder 3 is below cylin der head 21 of cylinder l and the cylinder head 23 for the working cylinder 2 is above the bottom of cylinder at, the width of the compression space 25.

Although I have shown a compression space 25 above the working piston 7, it is to be understood that such space may be dispensed with to a greater or less degree because of the open connection between cylinder 2 and cylinder 4:, however, care should be exercised that sufficient space is left between piston 7 and the cylinder head that in internal combustion engine design.

Because of the location of the cylinders within the block, considerable room exists between the working cylinder and between the two supplemental cylinders which lends itself readily to be constructed as a space for cooling water by the provision of a wall 2:; stretched between the piston heads 20 and 21.

Cylinder 3 is fitted out with a spark plug 27 and an exhaust valve 28, while cylinder 1 carries an exhaust valve 29, spark plug 30 and an inlet valve 31. The respective *alves are actuated in a manner that is so well known in the art that it is not thought necessary to disclose the valve actuating mechanism.

A space 32 that exists above the cylinder heads 20 and 21 and the wall 26 is utilized for the preheating of a charge of combustible fuel which is introduced therein from any known mixing device thru a tube 33, and after having been heated by the heat of conibustion in the well known manner, passes cylinder head 21 is a heavy spring of such strength that it is sufficient to withstand the pressure of the compression stroke of the working piston to preclude piston 11 from being urged upwardly by the pressure generaled by the said stroke of the piston.- When pressure within cylinders 2, 3 and 4 is uniform, the spring operates to establish a particular relation of position between pistons 10 and 11 such that a lip 36 on piston 10 approaches but does not cover port 6 in the common wall between cylinders 2 and 3.

The operation of my device is as follows: On the suction stroke, as represented by Figure 2, the inlet valve 31 is. opened to permit a combustible mixture from space 32 to enter cylinder 4 through intake pipe 34. This combustible mixture on the descent of the piston 7 enters cylinder 2 and when piston 7 uncovers port 6 .also enters cylinder 3, the

exhaust valve 28 of which is closed, as is also exhaust valve 29 of cylinder 4.

On the compression stroke, as shown by Figure 3, valves 28, 29 and 31 are closed and the ascent of the piston 7 compresses the charge in'cylinders 2, 3 and 4, eventually closing port 6 and further compressing a mixture in cylinders 2 and 4. Due to spring 35, movement of piston 11 by the pressure generated in cylinder 4 is precluded, and, consequently, a high pressure is attained.

Shortly after piston 7 has passed its top dead center, spark plug 30 is energized to fire the charge now compressed in cylinders 2 and 4, valves 28, 29 and 31 as. yet being closed, and as result of the explosion piston 7 covers its working stroke which is illustrated by Figure 4. Combustion of the mixture in cylinders 2 and 4 is sufiicient to overcome spring 35 and suddenly drives piston 11 I upwardly, and, consequently, piston 10 downwardly. Because of the eccentric mounting of the walking beam and also because piston 10 is smaller than piston 11, a greater pressure is developed in cylinder 3 by the compression of the combustible mixture therein and as yet not fired.

A very short time after the compression of the charge in cylinder 3 and prior to exposure of port 6 by piston 7 traveling downwardly under theimpulse of the explosion just described,.spark plug 27 is energized to fire the compressed mixture in cylinder Combustion in cylinder 3 drives upwardly piston 10 with the result that piston 11 is driven downwardly and immediately there after port 6 is disclosed by both the lip 36 on piston 10 and also by piston 7.

The pressure generated by the explosion in cylinder 3 is then capable of exerting itself through port 6 to act upon piston 7 and also through piston 11, which has been moved downwardly to decrease the clearance above piston 7, in other words, the pressure of the secondary explosion operates through port 6 on piston 7, as well as to force up piston 10 and force down piston 11 to cause pressure through the intermediary of cylinder 4 to act against piston 7.

At the end of the working stroke of piston claim as new and 7 and just prior to the beginning of the ascent of the said piston, exhaust valves 28 and 29 are opened to permit the rising piston to force out the products of combustion. Figure 5 indicates the position of the elements at the beginning of the last considered stroke. Immediately that the exhaust valves are opened, spring 35 brings about the normal relation in the positions of pistons 10 and 11. This relation of the parts may be attained prior to opening of the exhaust valves, when the pistons 10 and 11 and the spring 35 are so related that the spring is able to overcome the pressure in cylinder 4 prior to opening of the said exhaust valves.

It can be seen that by'the aboveconstruction and employment of two rather than one explosion for the production of a single working stroke, I have provided an engine in which the power delivery is smoother. Further, by altering the relative sizes of the two supplemental cylinders and pistons, I am able to obtain almost any desired pressure in the auxiliary combustion chamber and that without material loss due to friction because of the small number of elements utilized for transmitting the pressure on piston 11 to the combustion chamber beneath piston 10' c v Having described my invention what 1 wish to protectby Letters Patent is: Y

1. In aninternal combustion engine employing a main and auxiliary combustion, a working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues, two supplemental cylinders, open communication between the working cylinder and one supplemental cylinder, a port between the main cylinder and the other supplemental cylinder, a piston in the working cylinder, pistons in the supplemental cylinders, a walking beam connecting the supplemental pistons, means for causing an explosion in one of the supplemental cylinders,

the eflfect of which is transmitted to the working piston through the said' port and said open communication.

2. In an internal combustion engine enrploying a main and auxiliary combustion, a working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues, a piston in the working-cylinder and means including two additional pistons for furnishing an auxiliary explosion to operate against the workingpiston.

3. In an internal combustion engine employing a main and auxiliary combustion, a working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues, a piston in the working cylinder, and means including two additional pistons joined by a walking beam for furnishing an auxiliary explosion to operate against the piston. i

4. In an internal combustion engine em- 7 10 in a main and auxiliar combustion a working cylinder in which themain explosion :ensues,a piston in the working cylinder, two supplemental cylinders one in open connection with the working cylinder, supplemental pistons in the supplemental eylinders, a walking beam connecting the supplemental pistons and a spring positioned between the cylinder head of the cylinder which communicates with the Working cylinder and the supplemental piston therein for the purpose of precluding movement of the supplemental piston on the compression stroke of the working piston.

5. In an internal combustion engine employing a main and auxiliary combustion, a working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues, a piston in the working cylinder, two supplemental cylinders and pistons, means for introducing .a combustible mixture to the working cylinder and a connection between the supplemental pistons such that explosion of the combustible mixture in working cylinder and one supplemental cylinder compresses the combustible mixture in the other supplemental cylinder.

6. In an internal combustion engine operating with a main and auxiliary explosion, a working piston and working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues, a supplemental cylinder wherein the auxiliary explosion takes place and means including a second supplemental cylinder and piston whereby the explosion in the working cylinder effects the compression of the charge in the supplemental cylinder.

7. In an internal combustion engine operating with a main and auxiliary explosion, a working piston and working cylinder wherein the main explosion ensues, a supplemental piston and supplemental cylinder wierein the auxiliary explosion takes place, a port connecting the supplemental cylinder and working cylinder and means including a third cylinder in communication with the working cylinder and a third piston whereby part of the explosive effort of the auxiliary explosion is transmitted to the working piston, the remaining part being transmitted to the said working piston thru said port;

8. In an internal combustion engine, a working piston and cylinder, two supplemental pistons and cylinders, a yoke connecting the last mentioned pistons, and a spring 00- operating with one supplemental piston' to position the two supplemental pistons.

9. In an internal combustion engine oper ating with a main and auxiliary explosion, a working piston, a working cylinder in which the main explosion ensues. a first supplemen tal cylinder in open communication with the working cylinder, a piston in the first supplemental cylinder, a second supplemental cylinder ported to the working cylinder, a piston in the second supplemental cylinder, a yoke connecting the two supplemental pistons and a spring operating on the first sup- .plemental piston to preclude its movement ton.

10. In an internal combustion engine a working cylinder, a piston therein, a first.

and a second supplemental cylinder with pistons therein, the first supplemental cylinder in open communication with the working cylinder, a port connecting the second supplemental cylinder to the working cylinder and adapted to be covered and uncovered by the movement of the second supplemental piston, means for introducing a combusible mixture to the cylinders and a walking beam connecting the supplemental pistons whereby firing of the mixture in the working and first supplemental cylinder compresses the mixture in the second supplemental cylinder,

11. The combination of a working cylinder and piston of two supplemental cylinders and pistons, the working cylinder ported to one supplemental cylinder and in open communication with the other supplemental cylinder, and a walking beam fixedly pivoted with respect to the cylinders connecting the supplemental pistons whereby explosion of a charge in the working cylinder eflects compression of a charge in one of the supplemcntal cylinders.

12. In an internal combustion engine operating with a main and auxiliary explosion, a working cylinder wherein the main explosion ensues, a working piston, a first supplemental cylinder wherein, the auxiliary explosion takes place ported to the working cylinder a second supplemental cylinder communicating with the working cylinder, pistons in the supplemental cylinders and a walking beam fixedly pivoted with respect to the cylinders and connecting the supplemental pistons whereby the eflort of the auxiliary explosion is transmitted to the working piston through the second supplemental cylinder and piston.

13. The combination in an internal combustion engine having a working cylinder and piston, of two supplemental cylinde's communicating with the working cylinder, pistons in the supplemental cylinders, means for introducing and firing a charge in the working cylinder and one supplemental cylinder and means including a beam, fixedly pivoted with respect to the cylinders and connecting the supplemental pistons, whereby the effort of the explosion in the supplemental cylinder is transmitted to the working cylinder through the intermediary of both supplemental cylinders.

CHARLES S. BURNETT. 

